‘Dìdi’ Netflix Movie Review - Nostalgia at its Best

This movie has to be one of the best eye openers you will get to see. Director Sean Wang brings us a semi-autobiographical drama comedy that revolves around a 13-year-old Taiwanese‑American boy named Chris (played by Izaac Wang). The background is set during the summer of 2008 as Chris comes to the brink of turning an adolescent and navigates the various emotions he undergoes physically and emotionally, along with the complex, awkward relationships and the onset of the internet. Just like many teenage plots, Wang shows us something similar-a first date gone hilariously wrong. This does lighten up the mood and might be relatable for some. Then we also witness the weight of family that falls on a teenager during their teenage years, and how sometimes it can be hard to deal with it.  The film also shows us some of the missteps taken by Chris, a mirror that is a reflection of the wrong choices everyone ends up taking in life. Alongside Chris, we also see what it is like for an immigrant family in a foreign land. From his mother Chungsing’s perspective (played by Joan Chen), we see her live life through unfulfilled dreams as well as the pressures of immigrant life. She shares a slightly turbulent relationship with her son, and Wang manages to bring out that relationship beautifully. Another character that adds layers to the film is his grandmother (Chang Li Hua), who also happens to be Wang’s real-life grandmother. There is a sort of turbulence in her character that portrays generational tension combined with warmth.

For those who grew up in the late 2000s era, this movie will act as a nostalgia. It explores the beginning of YouTube, MySpace, messenger chats, etc. Chris’s world revolves around these apps and is a clear indication of how most teenagers lived during that time.

But the most important theme followed is the life of immigrants in a new country. And Chris is a perfect example of what the impact is on teenagers in situations like these. Chris tries hard to distance himself from his Asian roots and to adopt the American lifestyle influenced by his peers. But the truth is, he cannot run away from what he is and what his roots were.

While the themes of this film are very serious, Wang has presented them to us in the funniest way. There is humor that carries most of the plot. The cast also has great comic timing and gives us some of the funniest scenes throughout the movie.  What I also loved was how deeply the characters were written. Be it Chris or Chris’s mother or his grandmother, every character has a deep, hidden meaning that comes out most naturally through the actors playing them. That is the highlight of the film, and it gives us some memorable scenes that linger with us even after the credits roll.  In that sense, the cast has surely outdone themselves as they look and feel very realistic.

If you are someone who likes this type of genre, Didi is a great watch. The themes are heavy and are presented in the most fun banter ways that are heart-warming. With even pacing, the plot becomes easy to watch. And for those of you who grew up around the same timeline, this movie will give you plenty to recall.

Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times